Released today in 1998, the film Gods and Monsters, about a gay horror director at the end of his career made by a gay horror director at the start of his, became an unexpected Oscar contender. Adapted from Christopher Bram’s quirky novel The Father of Frankenstein, about James Whale, the reluctant director of such classic horror films as Frankenstein (1931) and The Invisible Man (1933), Gods and Monsters was originally intended to be a Showtime cable film. But strong festival showings gave the film a theatrical run, which in turn provided Oscars nominations for Ian McKellen (Best Actor) and Lynn Redgrave (Best Support Actress). But it was Condon who won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. Condon went on to make two more Oscar friendly movies, 2004’s Kinsey and Showgirls(2006).

For all the acrimony and anger created by its production, Butterfield 8, Daniel Mann’s adaptation of John O’Hara’s 1935 novel about a part-time prostitute (played by Elizabeth Taylor), should have been a catastrophe.